Routes for mountain biking in the province of Álava

Rutas para salir en bicicleta de montaña en la provincia de Álava

Discover Álava by bike: mountain bike and road bike routes

Álava is the gateway to green Spain from the Castilian plateau. Despite being the third smallest province in Spain, behind Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, it boasts an impressive variety of landscapes and routes ideal for cycling. From the mountains of the Gorbea Natural Park to the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, exploring its paths by bike is a unique experience.

Mountain bike routes in Álava

If you are a lover of mountain biking, the Gorbea Natural Park is a must-visit destination. With its technical trails and demanding climbs, this mountainous area is a paradise for bikers seeking adrenaline on every route. In addition, the area offers spectacular descents and trail routes ideal for improving technique and enjoying the natural surroundings.

For those who prefer gentler routes, Rioja Alavesa is an excellent option. Its paths among vineyards offer mountain bike rides without major technical difficulties, ideal for enjoying in a group or with family.

Road cycling in Vitoria and its surroundings

The surroundings of Vitoria-Gasteiz are perfect for road cycling enthusiasts. The province features secondary roads with little traffic and landscapes that combine plains and gentle hills. One of the most recommended routes is the one that crosses the Ullíbarri-Gamboa and Urrunaga reservoirs, offering kilometers of asphalt surrounded by nature.

For more experienced cyclists, the ascent to Opakua or the climb to the Puerto de Herrera are challenges that can't be missed in the itinerary. These routes offer demanding gradients and unparalleled panoramic views, consolidating Álava as an ideal destination for road cycling enthusiasts.

Explore Álava on two wheels

Whether on mountain bikes tackling technical trails or on road bikes Enjoying long journeys, Álava is a destination that enchants any cyclist. With a great variety of routes and landscapes, this province offers options for all levels, from cycle tourists to experts seeking new challenges.

If you are looking for a place to combine sports, nature, and culture, Álava is the perfect destination to enjoy cycling in any of its forms.

Vitoria - Sanctuary of Estíbaliz

Simple MTB route but of great beauty. Starting from the center of Vitoria, you leave the Basque capital heading southeast through the Uritiasolo industrial park to enter the tracks of the Alava plain, looking for the Sanctuary of Estíbaliz. This sanctuary is one of the Romanesque jewels of the province and is part of the municipality of Vitoria, specifically in the town of Argandoña. The route is completely flat along wide dirt and gravel paths, so it can be done with either a cross country mountain bike
or with a bikes of gravel
. There will only be one climb halfway through the route, that of the sanctuary, to later descend and return to the city.

Route of the Gorbea Natural Park

In the north of the province of Álava, on the border with Vizcaya, we find the Gorbea Natural Park, one of the most beautiful natural areas in the Basque Country, where you can do all kinds of mountain bike routes. This pure MTB route travels the Gorbea massif in a circular way starting from Murguía, in the Zuya valley. The route crosses green pasture meadows, lush beech forests, and also irregular and rocky high mountain trails where you can show off your best technical skills. It is a route of great beauty, an example of the Basque mountain landscape, to be done especially in spring or autumn. But it is also very tough, with hardly any flat sections, accumulating almost 1,700 m of positive elevation gain.

Dolmens Route

In addition to the Basque mountains to the north, Álava is home to another type of idyllic landscape for enjoying mountain biking. One of them is Rioja Alavesa, in the south of the province. It is one of the seven regions that make up the Basque province, known especially for its vineyards and dolmens, with a history spanning thousands of years. This route around Laguardia, the capital of the wine region, passes by some of these megalithic structures. You can also enjoy the landscape of vineyards that surround Laguardia. We recommend doing this route in autumn, when the vine leaves turn red and yellow, creating a unique scene.